Texas House calls for $9 billion education funding increase

Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen, left, and his wife Kimberly are shown during the opening day of the Texas legislative session on Jan. 8, 2019, in Austin.

Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen, left, and his wife Kimberly are shown during the opening day of the Texas legislative session on Jan. 8, 2019, in Austin.

Photo: Bob Owen, STAFF-photographer / San Antonio Express-News

Photo: Bob Owen, STAFF-photographer / San Antonio Express-News

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Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen, left, and his wife Kimberly are shown during the opening day of the Texas legislative session on Jan. 8, 2019, in Austin.

Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen, left, and his wife Kimberly are shown during the opening day of the Texas legislative session on Jan. 8, 2019, in Austin.

Photo: Bob Owen, STAFF-photographer / San Antonio Express-News

Texas House calls for $9 billion education funding increase

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AUSTIN — The House wants to pour $9 billion more dollars into public schools over two years should state lawmakers change Texas' education funding formula and reform property taxes, according to budget documents released late Monday.

Although the Senate is expected to release it's own budget plan Tuesday, the jump in funding offers a first glimpse at how Republicans propose to fulfill their promise to give a boost to schools.

Passing a budget is the only task lawmakers are required to complete during their 140-day session that began last week. Lawmakers are still a long way from inking their final budget.

The proposed boost in state funding would be contingent on enacting legislation that helps public schools, such as by increasing the state share of the Foundation School Program, enhancing district entitlements and decreasing the practice of "recapture" which includes taking money from property-wealthy districts to cover education costs in property poor districts, according to the budget documents. The plan is also contingent on providing local property tax relief, while maintaining an equitable system of school finance.

The budget was released late Monday on behalf of newly-elected Speaker Dennis Bonnen. The Senate is expected to release its version of the budget on Tuesday under the direction of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.

It is unclear whether retired Speaker Joe Straus played a part in crafting this budget. He said last month Texas could add $5 billion into school funding and said he would draft his own budget. The proposal from the House chamber suggests the state can spend even more money.

Texas lawmakers are likely to spar over school finance and property taxes through May while they figure out how to change how Texas funds schools and reform property taxes amid voter outcry. Both are complicated policy and political issues woven closely together.

The spending plan includes a cut of $1.1 billion — 3.2 percent — in funding for health and human services, including Medicaid spending. The proposal also includes cutting the Department of Natural Resources by 13 percent, or $124 million.

Funding for business and economic development would balloon by 64 percent to $319 million, while funding for border security would remain steady at $783 million.